Art journal construction ideas

I love handmade books and art journal construction was the topic we covered in my monthly Art Journal class on Wednesday night. Thought I'd bring the book forms discussed here in one place for inspiration for next time you bind an art journal. 

Simple binding of papers into a cover  : we talked about the 3-hole pamphlet stitch (easily modified to 5) = if you start inside you finish inside, if you start outside you can leave longer tails and decorate. 

As I was starting to gather my ideas for this class, Marit shared her first post for Quirky Dutch Summer : Journal with a canvas cover. It utilises this simple stitched technique (instructions HERE) and includes a nice idea for using canvas. 

My fabric book wrap had pages included using this method. This one I finished to the outside so that I could add beading to the spine.

And I couldn't show this one in class because it's been gifted away but you can enjoy it HERE (same pamphlet stitch, multiple signatures) : 

You can make this simple signature stitch look more complicated with a double cover

This book I finished with a simple knot inside the signature.
It's also easy to stitch pages in with your machine. I stitched messy lines in the centre of this canvas cover, and then stitched through pages that began as manila folders. Just lengthen your stitch length and stitch slowly

We talked about creating a journal from one piece of paper. Watch Dina Wakley do it on YouTube HERE. In 2022 these are commonly called a Zine.

My pansy book used the single piece of paper technique above and the simple pamphlet stitch.

We also discussed ideas for binding journal pages you’ve created on separate sheets of paper. Altering recycled ring-binders as covers is fun 

and then you can hole punch your art pages, or stick/stitch your pages onto base pages with punched holes. I don't have an example of my own, so this is a photo from Tam at Willowing using this method. 

You can also create full spreads on watercolour paper and then sew them together after. This was the method I used for binding the lessons from Tam's She Blooms in ink Class. 

You could also use the above technique to stitch art to base pages for binding. You can also create individual pages that are the same size and then bind them using a concertina paper hinge technique that you'll find HERE. 

  

  

You can tie pages into a cover - we thought this would be a good idea for saving special occasion cards.

Then we moved to the challenges of repurposing/strengthening old books for use as journals. This is where I introduced my current recycled art journal. You can remove pages before you start – use masking tape for reinforcing joins or to mend tears. 

Or just let your journal bloom and rebind if necessary. I use Bear tape – also could be called Duck tape.  Needs to be strong and wide and sticky. 

I mostly I leave altering my covers until the end. I love to start with a base of gold and then add layers including stencils and serviettes as 2 of my favourite recurring elements. The cover above ended up like THIS

Another fun thing is to replace a cover - when I made my watercolour journal in 2014, it had a spiral binding which meant I was easily able to make a new front cover with Pelmet Vilene

There are lots of fun methods of making holders for individual pages. This is a stitched envelope

and I made this lap top cover  (also gifted away) which could just as easily contain art journal pages : 

This is my Klimt in the Garden box

Also fun are Continuous pages like my cotton reel book : 

and simple concertina books like that made for me by Zsuzsa of our combined art projects

I love my Canvas book which has a variation on folding to make its cover

My Garden accordion book holds tags 

And this tag book is one of my favourite projects 

Birgit Koopsen also has a great method for making tag books. Find her instructions on Youtube HERE

I finished by sharing my Butterfly Star Book : you can find instructions to make this form HERE.

Loved gathering all these methods for class and this post. I am amazed at how many different book forms I have made so far. Hope you find time to create this week.